Things to see and do in the park at Fell Foot

Visitors outside the Boathouse cafe in spring at Fell Foot, Cumbria — Sit outside the Boathouse Cafe and enjoy the views of Windermere | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Take a leisurely walk around the park and meadows taking in the sights and sounds of the lake. Meet up with friends and family to enjoy the views and get outdoors in the fresh air.

Summer in the park

In summer the wildflowers on the paddock and in the south meadow come into full bloom, providing lots of sources of pollen for bees and butterflies. Keep an eye out for red admirals and other species. We have been working to create a new meadow management plan for the park which will enable the areas of wildflower to become even better and be sustained for many years to come.

Look out for swans, otters and birds like redwings and fieldfares. There are more birds around the park over the summer months. April to September is bird nesting season so even if you don’t always see them, you will definitely hear them. Small songbirds love to flit around our hedges and areas of scrub in the north meadow and we also see lots of swans and even herons along the lakeshore.

Activities and events

Parkrun during the Fell Foot Outdoor Festival at Fell Foot, Cumbria — A parkrun at Fell Foot | © National Trust Images/John Millar

Walking at Fell Foot

Our most accessible route is the Fell Foot short loop highlighted in orange on our visitor map. It's a short circular walk 880 yards (0.8km) along the shoreline offering far-reaching views north, with plenty of photographic opportunities, especially of the Fairfield Horseshoe.

There are plenty of benches around the park to take a moment to rest and look at the views.

You can borrow an all-terrain wheelchair to make it easier to get around the park. This must be booked in advance. Please email fellfoot@nationaltrust.org.uk to at least 48hrs before your visit to enquire about booking.

Fell Foot Park Short Loop route
This tranquil 1.6mile (2.5km) route takes you around the whole park to the tip of the lake where it turns into the River Leven. The walk is a little more strenuous and takes you to the wildflower meadow, past reedbeds and takes in the heritage buildings in the park. You'll be rewarded with some great views and the chance to spot some rare wildlife such as water rails which are a smaller relative of moorhens and coot water fowl.

You can download the Fell Foot circular heritage trail route.

Things to see in the park

There is a small harbour complex of three piers and five Gothic boathouses, complete with crenelated turrets, arrow loops, doorways and rustic limestone decoration – all designed to be viewed from the lake.

The boathouses relate architecturally to others on Windermere, particularly the earlier and larger example at Wray. However, the extent of the Grade II complex at Fell Foot is among the best in the Lake District. One of the boathouses is now a cosy cafe and in another you can see the Victorian boat winch.
In the pinetum there are California redwoods and firs. There are ancient beech trees and rhododendron that add colour in the autumn and spring. Nearby if you look carefully, you might see hints of where the grand old villa would have once stood on the house lawn.

In the summer you might spot dragon and damson flies around the stream, and toads too!

If you want to see more interesting firs and redwoods, head to Skelghyll Woods in Ambleside where you can see some of the tallest trees in Cumbria or explore High Close Estate tree trail in Langdale.
Our south meadow is now under a countryside stewardship agreement so for a few weeks of the year it will be home to a rare bread of blue Albian cattle.

However, before the cows arrive in the autumn the meadow will be full of wildflowers. Last year we planted 6000 plug plants of different wildflower species including devils’ bit scabious and oxeye daisy.

Our farmer will most likely be cutting the field towards the end of the summer, so it’s best to visit the meadow in July to see the flowers before they are gone.

Find out more about our conservation work in Windermere.

Visitors relaxing on the shore of Lake Windermere at Fell Foot, Cumbria in spring

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Plan your visit

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